Diagrams of Sanctification Views

Sanctification is like growing fruit that results in eternal life (Romans 6:19-22). God prunes the branches in Christ so they will be more fruitful (John 15:1-2). The believer’s part in sanctification is spiritual worship, which is the offering of oneself as a living, holy sacrifice acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). Spiritual worship is closely related to being filled with the Spirit.

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ has historically and predominantly taught that sanctification is progressive in developmental growth—a life process which begins with conversion in which the life is made morally holy and completed when we see Christ. However we allow in our teaching the possibility and privilege of a crisis experience of total devotion and perfection of love. We do not deny the crisis experience, nor do we demand it as the norm for every believer (C. Ray Miller and Paul R. Fetters, Our Distinctives, 14).